Laird Superfood To Open New Facility in Sisters

Paul Hodge, Co-Owner of Laird Superfood, accepting a forgivable loan check with (L-R) Sisters City Council President Nancy Connolly, EDCO Sisters Director Caprielle Lewis, and Sisters City Councilor Andrea Blum (photo by Nicole Abbenhuis)

SISTERS, OR (June 27, 2017) – Earlier this month, Paul Hodge, Co-Owner of Laird Superfood, accepted a forgivable loan check from the City of Sisters to help build a new production facility in town. Working with the City of Sisters, EDCO’s Caprielle Lewis helped Laird Superfood secure the forgivable loan, which was essential in locating the company in Sisters. “Caprielle Lewis at EDCO was instrumental in keeping our business in Sisters,” noted Hodge. “Capi did this by finding and connecting us with key employees, finding available land to build our new facility, helping us secure a forgivable loan with the city to fund expansion, and lead us through tax incentives, among many other things.” Hodge continued, “EDCO went above and beyond the call of duty in support of our business, which was the determining factor in building our business in Central Oregon.” With groundbreaking slated for later this summer, Laird Superfood is expecting to produce their nutrient-dense superfoods in the new facility by the end of 2017. Laird Superfood currently has 15 employees including the recent addition of four new key hires: Chief Marketing Officer, Customer Service Manager, FDA Quality Control and Compliance Manager, and Purchasing Manager, two of which were direct referrals from Lewis who helped bridge the employer/employee gap. A full workforce of approximately 45 employees is expected by next summer. Laird Superfood was founded by serial entrepreneur Paul Hodge and Laird Hamilton, the world-renowned big-wave surfer. The company creates clean, nutrient-dense products free of preservatives and chemicals, which currently includes coffee, coffee creamer, and other performance/superfood supplements. About Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO)EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders, whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by: recruiting new employers to move to the region; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with businesses that are already here to grow their operations.